By Jean Baptiste NIYIZURUGERO, Vice-President of the CPTA
The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June 2013, is an occasion for the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (CPTA) to express its compassion to victims of torture, in particular, and to all victims of human rights violations. It is an opportunity to recall the important work of the CPTA and its contribution to justice and redress for torture victims.
Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Charter) prohibits in absolute terms all forms of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This was further clarified in the Robben Island Guidelines)1, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in 2002. Subsequently, in 2004, the ACHPR established the CPTA2 with the mandate to, inter alia, promote and facilitate the implementation of the Robben Island Guidelines within States Parties to the African Charter.
